Gauge cock



May 17, 1932. c. A. FISCHER GAUGE COCK Filed Oct. 10; 1931 llll lw A Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES lama-mm CHARLES A. FISCHER, OF FORT 'WORTH, TEXAS GAUGE COCK Application filed October 10, 1931.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gauge cocks.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved gauge cock for steam boilers. a An important object of the invention is to provide a gauge cock having an element functioning both as a weight for holding the arm in its closed position and also as a renewable seat for assuring against leaks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a member of seat-forming material mounted to freely revolve in the arm, whereby one grasping the arm to raise it may readily adjust the member to provide a new seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a renewable seat and gauge cock arm of simple and economical structure comprising a minimum number of parts.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gauge cock constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

lgigure 3 is a detail of the nipple and arm, an

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44: of Figure 2.

In the drawings the numeral designates a nipple having an axial passage or bore 11 extending therethrough and provided with a screw-threaded shank 12. The general structure of the nipple is common in the art.

On the outer end of the nipple a vertical flat boss 13 is provided and the passage 11 extends through this boss. An ear 14 is formed at the top of the boss and receives a transverse pivot bolt 15. An arm 16 is hinged on the bolt and confined by a nut 17 The arm includes a handle 16.

The arm 16 is composed of a pair of frame members 17' disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said arm. Each frame member includes a circular or annular 50 frame 18 having a flat lug 20. The lugs are seat for the nozzle.

Serial No. 568,186.

offset so as to straddle the boss 13 and are hinged on the bolt 15. One of the frame members has an ear 19 diametrically opposite its lug 20 and seated against the handle 16 carried by the other frame member. The ear is held to the handle by a bolt 21, whereby the frame members are secured together.

As is shown best in Figure 4:, the frames 18 are curved to'form a socket for a large ball 22. The inner sides of theframes are preferably curved on an arc concentric to the circumference of the ball, but the ball is sufficiently less in diameter than the internal diameter of the socket, as to provide ample clearance between the ball and the frames, whereby the ball may be freely revolved.

The ball 22 is preferably formed of lead or some other metal or material suitable for the purpose so that when the arm is swung downward, the ball will form a seat for a reduced nozzle 23 formed on the boss 13 at the end of the passage 11. The nozzle is reduced to a thin edge so as to readily embed itself in the surface of the ball. The bolt 15 is located above the nozzle and the parts are so, positioned that the horizontal axis of the ball will be opposite the passage 11 when the arm is lowered, but this of course, is subj ect to variation. The ball is heavy enough to form a weight sufficient to hold its seat on the nozzle against a steam or fluid pressure exerted through the passage 11. The sides of the ball are exposed on each side of the frame members and one may grasp the ball and freely revolve it to provide a new The ball is sufliciently large that the number of new seats which it will form is indefinite, and-the whole apparatus should last for a long period.

The simplicity of the device and the combined functions of the ball, which are, acting as a weight to hold the arm closed and providing new seats for the nozzle, are most im portant. It would take thousands of operations wherein the seat was renewed to use all the available seats on the surface of the ball 22. By increasing the size of the ball, additional weight is added, and the nozzle 23 may be sealed against high pressures. It will be noted that by grasping the handle 16 and;

swinging the arm to an upright position, the nozzle 23 is fully exposed so that the passage 11 may be cleaned whenever necessary. There are no adjustments or other parts likely to get out of place.

WVhile I have shown the element 22 in the form of a ball, itis to be understood that the shape is immaterial, so longas the element functions as a seal and a weight.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, aswell as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention,what I claim, is

1. In a gauge cock, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the passage of the nipple, a pivoted arm, a ball of metal carried by the arm and engaging said nipple for sealing the same, said ball also constitutinga weight for maintaining said seal againsta working fluid pressure.

2. In a gauge cook, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the passage of the nipple, a pivoted arm,

and a ball carried by said arm and seating against said nipple, the ball being of soft metal and loosely confined, whereby it may be freely revolved to provide new seats for the nozzle.

3. A gauge cock as set forth in claim 1 in which the ball is formed of soft metal and is loosely confined so that it may be freely revolved to provide new seats for the nozzle.

4. In a gauge cock, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the passage of the nipple, a pivoted arm, and a large soft metal ball loosely mounted in said arm and engaging said nozzle to close the same, the ball constituting a weight and exposed for free revolving to provlde new seats for the nozzle.

5. In a gauge cock, a nipple having a-passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the nipple, an arm hinged to the nipple above the nozzle and including'frame members, and a soft metal ball loosely confined in said frame members for free revolving, said ball engaging said nozzle.

6. In a gauge cook, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the nipple, an arm hinged to the nipple above the nozzle and including a pair of frame members having a ball socket, and a large metal ball mounted to freely revolve in the socket of the frame members and exposed on each side of the socket, said ball engaging the nozzle.

7. In a gauge cook, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the nipple, a pair of frame members hinged to the nipple and including circular frames, means for fastening the members together, the frames having curved inner surfaces to provide a socket, and a metal ball'of member including a circular frame-having a lug and one member having an ear diametrically opposite from its lug, the other member having a handle to which the ear is fastened, a boss onthenipple, a pivot bolt penetrating the boss and the lugs for hinging the frame members to the nipple, and a soft metalball loosely confined in the frames of the members and engaging the nozzle.

9. In a gauge cock, a nipple having apassage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the passage-of the nipple, a pivoted arm, and'a metal ball loosely mounted in the arm and having itssides exposed for unrestrained manual revolution, said ball engaging said nipple and forming a seat thereforas wellas a weight for maintaining said seat against a fluid pressure.

10. In a gauge cook, a nipple having a passage therethrough, a nozzle at the outer end of the passage of the nipple, a pivoted arm, and an element carried by-the arm for engaging said nozzle and sealingthe same and also acting as a weight to hold saidarm in its lowered posit-ion and to maintain saidseal against a high pressure in the passage of said nipple, the sealing element being mounted in the arm to freely rotate andbeing free to rotate except when engaged with said nozzle.

In-testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES A. FISCHER. 

